Background: IL-15 is a proinflammatory myokine essential for activating NK cells and CD8+ T lymphocytes, and its overexpression has been associated with decreased survival in patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Physical exercise has been shown to be safe, feasible, and beneficial in hematological cancers. This requires the activation of muscles that secrete cytokines such as IL-15, causing immune mobilization and accumulating CD8 T cells. The objective was to compare the effect of two exercise strategies on IL-15 and survival prognosis in adult patients diagnosed with de novo ALL. Material and Methods: A blind randomized clinical study was carried out where twenty-three peripheral blood samples were obtained pre- and post-exercise from patients classified into three types of intervention: resistance exercise (GER), crossover exercise (GEC), and control group (GC). Ethical disclosure: All patients gave written informed consent for the study and data collection. This three-arm, prospective, randomized, blinded, open-label pilot study (ratio 1:1:1) was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Results: The results showed that the changes in IL-15 levels during the intervention were not significant in any of the groups (GC p= 0.237, GER p= 0.866, and GEC p= 0.678). However, 78.26% of patients achieved remission at the end of induction, while only 21.73% experienced a relapse. There were no deaths during the study. Conclusions: Although IL-15 compliance levels in GER and GC were similar, GER patients had a better prognosis. It is suggested that resistance exercises may help improve survival prognosis and reduce early relapses in patients with ALL.

Keywords

Interleukin-15; exercise; Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; chemotherapy; body composition

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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2023
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